Peter Lehel - saxes, woodwinds, composition
Ull Möck - piano, fender rhodes
Dirk Blümlein - electric bass
Daniel Messina - drums, percussion
Fany Kammerlander - cello
Jo Ambros - electric & acoustic guitar
Enkhjargal Dandarvaanchig - mongolian voice & violin
Isao Nakamura - percussion
Video by Catia Tonin
"When Future Smiles" is a programmatic title and a composition by the Karlsruhe saxophone icon Peter Lehel, which was commissioned at the opening of the European Culture Days 2016 in Karlsruhe and was heard for the first time with an acclaimed world premiere in Tollhaus.
The background to this cosmopolitan composition for an octet was the theme "Change, Migration, Departure" also in connection with the refugee crisis. Colorful elements from jazz, classical music and folk music were used in composition and improvisation. The cast of Japanese percussionist, Estonian pianist, Mongolian horsehead fiddler and overtone singer also contributed to the special flair of this work.
In 2018, the work was performed in a modified instrumentation in Taiwan and China on Lehel's major tour with guests from Asian cultures.
This principle of openness and metamorphosis is now being continued with a new basic cast from Baden-Württemberg and guests from other cultures. The line-up is based on the "New Peter Lehel Quartet", which has been well recorded for a number of years and was suddenly broken up by the terrible accidental death of the great drummer Christian Huber.
The difficult part of the drums in the project When Future Smiles is taken on by Argentinian drummer Daniel Messina, with whom Lehel toured Europe for many years with Hammond virtuoso Barbara Dennerlein.
New is the wonderful cellist Fany Kammerlander from Munich, whose imaginative playing plays an important atmospheric role in When Future Smiles. Fany Kammerlander is currently best known for his work with Konstantin Wecker.
With the guitarist Jo Ambros from Berlin, as well as Peter Lehel Jazz Prize winner Baden-Württemberg, the Japanese percussionist Isao Nakamura, professor at the HfM Karlsruhe and the Mongolian singer and horse head fiddler Enkhjargal Dandarvaanchig this diverse world jazz dream line-up is completed.
With the kind support of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science and Art as part of a project grant to promote artistic practice.